Preparation, interfacial regulation and strengthening of Mg/Al bimetal fabricated by compound casting: A review

Mg/Al bimetal combines the advantages of both aluminum and magnesium and has broad application prospects in automotive, aerospace,weapons, digital products and so on. The compound casting has the characteristics of low cost, easy to achieve metallurgical combination and suitable for the preparation of complex bimetallic parts. However, bimetallic joint strength is low due to differences of physical properties between Al and Mg, oxide film on metallic surface and interfacial Al-Mg IMCs, which is closely related to the interfacial microstructure and properties. Therefore, how to control the interface of the bimetal to achieve performance enhancement is the focus and difficulty in this field. At present, there are mainly the following strengthening methods. First, the “zincate galvanizing” and “electrolytic polishing+anodic oxidation” technology were exert on the surface of Al alloy to remove and break the oxide film, which improved the wettability between Al and Mg. Second, the undesirable Al-Mg IMCs were reduce or elimination by adding the interlayers(Zn, Ni and Ni-Cu). Thirdly, the evolution process of interfacial microstructure was changed and fine strengthening phases were formed by adding Si element to Al alloy or rare earth element to Mg alloy. Fourthly, mechanical vibration and ultrasonic vibration were applied in the process of the filling and solidification to refine and homogenize the interfacial structure. Finally, some other methods, including secondary rolling, thermal modification, heat treatment and constructing exterior 3D morphology, also can be used to regulate the interfacial microstructure and compositions. The above strengthening methods can be used alone or in combination to achieve bimetallic strengthening. Finally, the future development direction of the Mg/Al bimetal is prospected, which provides some new ideas for the development and application of the Mg/Al bimetal.

Effect of HEA/Al composite interlayer on microstructure and mechanical property of Ti/Mg bimetal composite by solid-liquid compound casting

In this study,HEA/AI composite interlayer was used to fabricate Ti/Mg bimetal composites by solidliquid compound casting process.The Al layer was prepared on the surface of TC4 alloy by hot dipping,and the FeCoNiCr HEA layer was prepared by magnetron sputtering onto the Al layer.The influence of the HEA layer thickness and pouring temperature on interface evolution was investigated based on SEM observation and thermodynamic analysis.Results indicate that the sluggish diffusion effect of HEA can effectively inhibit the interfacial diffusion between Al and Mg,which is conducive to the formation of solid solution,especially when the thickness of HEA is 800 nm.With the increase of casting temperature from 720 ℃ to 730 ℃,740℃,and 750 ℃,α-Al(Mg),α-Al(Mg)+Al3Mg2,Al3Mg2+Al12Mg17,and Al12Mg17+δ-Mg are formed at the interface of Ti/Mg bimetal,respectively.When the thickness of the HEA layer is 800 nm and the pouring temperature is 720 ℃,the bonding strength of the Ti/Mg bimetal can reach the maximum of 93.6 MPa.

Influence of Ni interlayer on interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V/AZ91D bimetals fabricated by a solid–liquid compound casting process

The solid–liquid compound casting of Mg-AZ91D and Ti-TC4 alloys was developed by using pure Ni electro-deposited coating.The pouring temperatures of 660℃,690℃,720℃and 750℃were chosen to investigated the effects of casting temperatures on microstructural evolution,properties,and fracture behaviors of Ni-coated TC4/AZ91D bimetals by the solid–liquid compound casting(SLCC).The scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and the energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS)results showed that the interfacial zone mainly composed of nickel,Mg_(2)Ni and Mg-Al-Ni in the bimetals cast at 660℃.As the pouring temperature was increased to 750℃,the width of the interface zone,which mainly composed ofδ(Mg),Mg_(2)Ni,Mg-Al-Ni,Mg_(3)TiNi_(2) and Al_(3)Ni,gradually increased.The microhardness tests showed that the micro-hardness of the interface zone was smaller than that of TC4 substrate but larger than that of the cast AZ91D matrix.At the pouring temperature of 720℃,the Ni-coated TC4/AZ91D bimetals had the most typical homogeneous interface,which had granular Mg-Al-Ni ternary phase but no ribbon-like Al3Ni binary phase,and achieved the highest shear strength of 97.35MPa.Meanwhile,further fracture behavior analysis showed that most fracture failure of Ni-coated TC4/AZ91D bimetals occurred at the Mg_(2)Ni+δ(Mg)eutectic structure and Al_(3)Ni hard intermetallic.

Improving mechanical properties of AZ91D magnesium/A356 aluminum bimetal prepared by compound casting via a high velocity oxygen fuel sprayed Ni coating

In this paper,a Ni coating was deposited on the surface of the A356 aluminum alloy by high velocity oxygen fuel spraying to improve the performance of the AZ91D magnesium/A356 aluminum bimetal prepared by a compound casting.The effects of the Ni coating as well as its thickness on microstructure and mechanical properties of the AZ91D/A356 bimetal were systematically researched for the first time.Results demonstrated that the Ni coating and its thickness had a significant effect on the interfacial phase compositions and mechanical properties of the AZ91D/A356 bimetal.The 10μm’s Ni coating cannot prevent the generation of the Al-Mg intermetallic compounds(IMCs)at the interface zone of the AZ91D/A356 bimetal,while the Ni coating with the thickness of 45μm and 190μm can avoid the formation of the Al-Mg IMCs.When the Ni coating was 45μm,the Ni coating disappeared and transformed into Mg-Mg_(2)Ni eutectic structures+Ni_(2)Mg_(3)Al particles at the interface zone.With a thickness of 190μm’s Ni coating,part of the Ni coating remained and the interface layer was composed of the Mg-Mg_(2)Ni eutectic structures+Ni_(2)Mg_(3)Al particles,Mg_(2)Ni layer,Ni solid solution(SS)layer,Al_(3)Ni_(2) layer,Al_(3)Ni layer and sporadic Al_(3)Ni+Al-Al_(3)Ni eutectic structures from AZ91D side to A356 side in sequence.The interface layer consisting of the Mg-Ni and Al-Ni IMCs obtained with the Ni coating had an obvious lower hardness than the Al-Mg IMCs.The shear strength of the AZ91D/A356 bimetal with a Ni coating of 45μm thickness enhanced 41.4%in comparison with that of the bimetal without Ni coating,and the fracture of the bimetal with 45μm’s Ni coating occurred between the Mg matrix and the interface layer with a mixture of brittle fracture and ductile fracture.

Effect of vibration on interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg/Al bimetal prepared by a novel compound casting

In this work,a vibration was applied in the preparation of the Mg/Al bimetal by a novel compound casting in order to improve the mechanical properties of the Mg/Al bimetal,and the effect of the vibration on the interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties of the Mg/Al bimetal was investigated.The results indicated that the vibration had a significant effect on the interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties of the Mg/Al bimetal,but it did not change the phase compositions of the interface,which was composed of layerⅠ(Al3Mg2+Mg2Si),layerⅡ(Al_(12)Mg_(17)+Mg_(2)Si)and layerⅢ(Al_(12)Mg_(17)/δ-Mg).Without vibration,the Mg_(2)Si phase with a needle-like morphology mainly aggregated in the layerⅡof the interface.After the application of the vibration,the SEM and EBSD analysis results showed that the Mg_(2)Si and Al3Mg2phases in the interface were obviously refined,and the distribution of the Mg_(2)Si became more uniform,due to the strong forced convection of the molten metal resulting from the vibration.The TEM analysis indicated that the interface between the A_(l3)Mg_(2) and Mg_(2)Si phases was non-coherent,suggesting the Mg_(2)Si particles cannot act as a heterogeneous nucleation base during the solidification process of the interface.Compared to the Mg/Al bimetal without vibration,the shear strength of the Mg/Al bimetal with vibration increased by about 50%from 31.7 MPa on average to 47.5 MPa,and the hardness of the layer I of the interface increased,and the hardness of the layerⅢdecreased.The fracture surface transformed from a flat fracture morphology without vibration to an irregular zigzag fracture morphology.

Centrifugal Casting of High Speed Steel/Nodular Cast Iron Compound Roll Collar

The centrifugal casting of compound HSS/nodular cast iron roll collar was studied,and the factors affecting transition zone quality were analyzed.The pouring temperature and interval in pouring are the main factors affecting transition zone quality.By controlling process parameter and flux adding during casting,high quality roll collar was obtained.The cause,why in the casting of HSS part,segregation appears easily,was analyzed and the countermeasure eliminating segregation was put forward,the measure eliminating heat treatment crackling was also put forward.

Effect of La on microstructure,mechanical properties and fracture behavior of Al/Mg bimetallic interface manufactured by compound casting

To improve the Al/Mg bimetallic interface,La was added into the Al/Mg bimetallic interface manufactured by a compound casting process.The effect of La addition on the microstructure,mechanical properties and fracture behavior of the Al/Mg bimetallic interface and the formation mechanism of the interface were studied in detail.Al_(11)La_(3),Al_(8)Mn_(4)La,Al_(20)Ti_(2)La,and other rare earth precipitates(RE precipitates)preferentially precipitated at the interface with La addition,while the number of the Al_(11)La_(3)and Al_(8)Mn_(4)La located in eutectic structure area(E area)gradually increased and aggregated in the interface with the increase of the La content.Besides,the matrix structure in different areas of the Al/Mg interface changed in different degrees,and the eutectic structure and primaryγ(Mg_(17)Al_(12))dendrites in the E area were refned,but the intermetallic compounds area(IMC area)had no obvious change.With the addition of the La,the interface was strengthened under the comprehensive effect of refnement strengthening and precipitation strengthening from the E area.When the La content increased to 1.0%,the shear strength of the Al/Mg bimetal reached the maximum of 51.54 MPa,which was 30.95%higher than the group without La addition.However,with the further increase of the La content,the large area aggregation of the Al_(11)La_(3)and Al_(8)Mn_(4)La occurred in the interface,leading to the separation of the matrix structure of the E area and the decrease of the shear strength of the Al/Mg interface.

Effect of melt-to-solid volume ratio and preheating temperature on Mg/Al bimetals interface by centrifugal casting

Compound casting is an efficient method for bonding dissimilar metals,in which a dramatic reaction can occur between the melt and solid.The centrifugal casting process,a type of compound casting,was applied to cast Al/Mg dissimilar bimetals.Magnesium melt was poured at 700 °C,with melt-to-solid volume ratios(Vm/Vs) of 1.5 and 3,into a preheated hollow aluminum cylinder.The preheating temperatures of the solid part were 320,400,and 450 °C,and the constant rotational speed was 1,600 rpm.The cast parts were kept inside the casting machine until reaching the cooling temperature of 150 °C.The result showed that an increase in preheating temperature from 320 to 450 °C led to an enhanced reaction layer thickness.In addition,an increase in the Vm/Vs from 1.5 to 3 resulted in raising the interface thickness from 1.2 to 1.8 mm.Moreover,the interface was not continuously formed when a Vm/Vs of 3 was selected.In this case,the force of contraction overcame the resultant acting force on the interface.An interface formed at the volume ratio of 1.5 was examined using scanning electron microscopy(SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS),and the results demonstrated the formation of Al_(3)Mg_(2),Al_(12)Mg_(17) and(δ+Al_(12)Mg_(17)) eutectic structures in the interface.

Bonding of compound casted Ti/Al bimetal by heat treatment

The formation mechanism of the bonding between compound cast Al/Ti bimetal during a heat treatment regime was investigated.Commercially pure Al was cast and melt on a Ti bar in a steel tube,followed by heat treatment on the compound cast Ti/Al bimetal for different periods of time once the Al melt was solidified.No bonding was observed between the two metals after the initial casting,which can be attributed to the presence of oxide films on the liquid Al and solid Ti alloys and the trapped atmosphere between them.The effect of these layers in preventing the formation of bonding was eliminated after heat treating the cast part at~973 K(~700℃)for at least 15 min,and the metals started to bond with each other.A detailed description of this bonding mechanism is presented in this paper.

Conversion Excess Coal Gas to Dimethyl Ether in Steel Works

The centrifugal casting of compound HSS/nodular cast iron roll collar was studied, and the factors affecting transition zone quality were analyzed. The pouring temperature and interval in pouring are the main factors affecting transition zone quality. By controlling process parameter and flux adding during casting, high quality roll collar was obtained. The cause, why in the casting of HSS part, segregation appears easily, was analyzed and the countermeasure eliminating segregation was put forward, the measure eliminating heat treatment crackling was also put forward.